Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.

Avalanche ADVISORY

Good morning. This is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the western Uinta Mountains. Today is Saturday, February 28, 2004 and it’s 7:30 a.m.

Current conditions:

Under mostly cloudy skies, snow began falling late last night and it looks like we’ve received an additional 6” of new, light density snow throughout the range. Storm totals are around 2’ at the upper elevations. We should see a brief break this morning, then get clobbered late today into early Sunday and additional 1’-2’ of snow is possible. Current 10,000’ temperatures are in the low teens and winds are light and variable blowing at speeds of less 15 mph along the ridges.

Avalanche Conditions:

It’s been quite a storm for us. Many of the weak layers in the snowpack I’ve been talking about for the past few weeks couldn’t adjust to all this added weight in such a short period of time. With a bit of visibility yesterday it was quite apparent many steep slopes throughout the range had gone through a sizable avalanche cycle. Several observers noted even lower angle slopes they normally deem as “safe” when conditions get dicey had avalanched naturally! What makes the avalanche conditions tricky right now is many of the slopes that did slide naturally are now covered over with new snow and those that haven’t, just need a good thump to tip the balance.

It’s going to be hard to detect which slopes are waiting in the wings for the right trigger to come along. Your best bet in these types of conditions is to watch your slope angles and stay off of and out from under steep wind-loaded slopes. Also pay attention to obvious signs of instability such as cracking, collapsing, and “whumphing” noises.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a big storm come our way. I know the allure of steep slopes and deep powder has many of us chomping at the bit. However in steep, wind loaded terrain, an avalanche triggered today certainly has the possibility of breaking into deeper weak layers in the snowpack. This would produce a large, dangerous, and possibly unsurvivable avalanche. People without well-developed avalanche, route finding, and rescue skills should avoid avalanche terrain today.

With the light density snow we received overnight, low angle slopes will be fast and fun today. Though remember, even if you’re playing in low angle terrain be aware of steep slopes above and adjacent to you.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE this morning, at and above timberline, on all steep slopes, especially those with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. The avalanche danger may rise to HIGH this afternoon with additional snowfall. A Considerable avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches are possible. A High avalanche danger means both human triggered and natural avalanches are likely.

At mid elevations the avalanche danger is MODERATE today on all steep, wind-drifted slopes and human triggered avalanches are possible.

Out of the wind and on low angle slopes the avalanche danger is generally LOW

Mountain Weather:

A large, slow moving system will continue to produce snow for the region and a heavy snow warning remains in effect through tonight. Some breaks in the action are expected throughout the day, though as far as snow totals go we can anticipate 6”-12” during the day with the possibility of another 6”-12” tonight. Temperatures will be on the cool side with highs at 10,000’ in the low teens and at 8,000’ in the mid 20’s. Overnight lows will be around 10 degrees. Winds should remain fairly well behaved, in the 10-15 mph range along the ridges, blowing out of the west through southwest this morning and switching to the northwest by late afternoon. Sunday the storm will be winding down for us and under cloudy skies we should see lingering snow showers throughout the day with the possibility of 1”-3” of additional snow.

General Information:

We can always use snow and avalanche information and your snowpack and avalanche observations could help to save someone’s life. If you see or trigger an avalanche give us a call at 801-231-2170 or 1-800-662-4140.

Also, if you’d like to schedule a free avalanche awareness talk and/or field day give us a call at 801-524-5304.

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

I will update this advisory by 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb.29, 2004.

Thanks for calling.